With the bounty of beautiful cities to see in Italy, Turin (Turin in English, Torino in Italian), located in the Piedmont province of northwest Italy, has often been overlooked by mainstream tourists scrambling to hit Venice, Milan, Florence, and Rome. Not anymore.

In February 2006, Turin hosts the Winter Olympics, and the world will get a glimpse of what millions of visitors already know: Turin is a thriving town with much to do, see and experience. As you read this, the finishing touches are being put on Olympic housing complexes, railway stations, parks, and transportation and facility projects, all designed by world-renowned architects and urban planners and scheduled to be completed by February.

In the past, Turin was best known for being home to the Shroud of Turin, a piece of cloth that was reputedly laid on the tomb holding the body of Christ. Scholars, theologians and scientists have long debated the Shroud's legitimacy, which has only fueled its notoriety. But Turin is no one-cloth town, with its great architecture and parks, and historical ties to chocolate, cars, cinema, and royalty.

Turin is a great stop on a whirlwind European trip. It's neither outrageously expensive nor overwhelming in size or navigation, and is conveniently located within shouting distance of France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

All amounts are listed in U.S. dollars.

Day 1: Atypical Turin

It's important to know a little about Turin's unique character. Unlike its northern neighbors Milan and Florence, whose denizens generally reflect the flash and glamour of designer Italy, Turin is humble and scruffy — a city of hippies that has its roots firmly in an honest worker mentality. Consequently, its women are more restrained in dress and less glamorous than in the aforementioned cities.

Because Turin is such a great walking city, generally the best time to experience everything it has to offer is from April to October, when you can enjoy a typically balmy Mediterranean climate. It is important to note that the month of August can be uncomfortably hot, prompting many bars, restaurants and museums to close down. From November to March, Turin can be bitingly cold and, as a result, is far less busy. Although it rarely actually snows in the city, the nearby Alps are covered in the winter — it's a great time to enjoy the mountains.

artistic accomodations

If you don't mind spending a few extra euros, Hotel Boston Torino is a spectacular spot to serve as your base. The famous art hotel stands out even among famously unique European hotels. Located in heart of downtown Turin, Hotel Boston boasts a roster of rooms that are incredibly diverse, both in structure and in content.

Design also varies, from straightforward rooms to angular two-floor suites, but all are judiciously decorated with various pieces of stunning art from Hotel Boston's seemingly bottomless trove of paintings and pieces. A stay here may be expensive while conferences are in town (and even more so for the Olympics, of course), but during other times, Hotel Boston offers relatively reasonable rates for such amazing and unforgettable accommodations (in the range of $200 per night).

For more budget-oriented travelers, there are scores of cheaper accommodation alternatives right in the city. Of particularly good value are a handful of bed and breakfasts that are located within walking distance of the central areas. Most of these are priced in the $50 to $60 range for doubles, though some run as cheap as $40 or less. Though you won't be as artistically stimulated as you would if you stayed in Hotel Boston, these B&Bs are generally clean, safe and comfortable.

Check out Italy's National Cinema Museum and start eating like an Italian...